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A guide to Tignes

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Local shops opening hours: usually open from around 7-8am to midday, and then again from 4-5pm to 7-8pm.

Renting gear: we recommendBlack Cats located in the upper part of Val Claret. Although there are several rental outlets between Chalet Club and the ski lifts, all of which are fine, but many of the chain shops can feel like a procession of people in-and-out fast. Black Cats is an independent retailer and take time ensuring you have the correct kit, I’ve been genuinely really impressed. Prices for rental are pretty consistent throughout Tignes, and therefore we recommend Black Cats.

Lessons: for ski and/or snowboard lessons you will find many options, private and group sessions can be booked. Evolution2 ski school has been recommended, ESF are also a local ski school (they have been criticised on local Facebook groups for taking a casual attitude to off-piste safety, I cannot comment as I have no experience of them).

Lift pass: you can buy your pass either at the Tourist Information office, which is between the Interhome office and Parking Du Golf, or, more easily, just go to the ticket office by the lifts and Funiculaire (come out of the apartment, turn left, cross the snow and it’s between all the lifts). Click here for lift price info and prices.

Buses: there’s a free bus service that runs between the various Tignes villages. The buses are most used by people who are heading to ski lifts in Val Claret, or heading to Le Lac bars later. There’s a stop outside the apartment front door.

Lifts around the village: as Val Claret is on the mountain, the village has an upper and lower part. Upper is more handy for restaurants and bars, lower is better for piste access. There are two lifts (regular lifts, not ski lifts) linking upper and lower Val Claret (fortunately equidistant either side of Chalet Club). Turn left or right out of the apartment, look for signs saying ‘Ascenseur’: I believe to the left the lift is called ‘Ascenseur de Bollin’, and to the right look out for ‘Ascenseur de Platineres’ (this is your best option for shops and eating). These are useful to save you negotiating a snowy slope between the buildings.

Eating: the upper part of Val Claret has around half a dozen good restaurants, particularly recommended are; L’Armoise and Le Grattalu. Raclette (huge lump of cheese that you cook at the table and scrape melted loveliness on to your plate), Tartiflette (potato, ham and cheese deliciousness) and Fondu (super-tasy melted cheese and wine that you dunk stale bread into) are all well washed down with a Genepy, or two (local herb alcohol). In Le Lac Bagus Cafe does a decent Pierade too (hot stone that you cook scrumptious meats on). There are a couple of good affordable lunch options down near Rond Pont Des Pistes (by the lifts) Aspen Cafe does huge portions at good prices; if it’s clear check out SnowFood, the hut outside Aspen.

Bars/Nightclubs: we recommend La Couloir best for apres-ski drinks (and they have a telly if you want to watch football or rugby); Arobaze for wifi and house music; Le Melting Pot and Blue Girl Discothèque providing late night options in Val Claret. There are more places in Le Lac too, including Jack’s Bowling alley.

Cashpoints: there are three in Val Claret, one is in the corner of the courtyard between shops (opposite Black Cats and Le Couloir), the second is in a small shopping arcade (near to the Tabac and Cheese shop), the third is at Rond Pont Des Pistes in the lower area near the lifts (on the same block as the toilets).

Pharmacy: there is a pharmacy between the Tabac and the Interhome office.

Nearest fuel: in Le Lac by the mini roundabout, it is more expensive than down in Bourg St Maurice (45 mins away).